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What Are Brave Creative Spaces? (Using the STAGES Framework)
- Kira Troilo
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
I know what it takes to make creative spaces braver, healthier, and more sustainable—because I’ve been doing it show after show, rehearsal after rehearsal.
As one-third of the Inclusive STAGES team, I bring the inclusion-focused lens behind Art & Soul Consulting. In this episode, I walk you through the exact framework she’s used to support artists, dismantle burnout, and build spaces where bold, honest storytelling can thrive.
It’s called the STAGES Framework, and it’s more than a checklist. It’s a six-step process for transforming your rehearsal rooms from tense and transactional into places where people feel seen, safe, and supported.
This framework doesn’t just sound good in theory; it’s been tested in real-world productions, including one of The Full Monty, where artists faced everything from full nudity onstage to internalized shame around body image.
At every step, my goal is to help theater companies move beyond “let’s just get through it” and into something more powerful: sustainable creativity built on psychological safety.
Here's what I cover:
Why burnout in the arts isn’t just about exhaustion—and what it really stems from
What psychological safety actually looks like (and how it unlocks creativity)
The 6 steps of the STAGES Framework—from setting the scene to striking with care
How to build inclusion into your process, instead of tacking it on afterward
A real-world example of the STAGES method in action during a production of The Full Monty
What “challenge safety” is, and why it might be the missing link in your feedback process
How creative leaders can start building braver spaces today
Ready to make your rehearsal rooms not just inclusive, but resilient?
This episode is your toolkit.
The STAGES Framework proves that when we prioritize the people in our process, the art doesn’t suffer...it soars.
So ask yourself:
What could change in your theater if every artist felt brave enough to show up fully, and bold enough to speak up when it mattered most?
Let’s build that kind of space…together.
Related Episodes
Links & Mentioned Resources
Connect with Kira:
Thanks for joining me on this episode of Inclusive Stages! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help me reach even more theater makers, theater artists, and theater lovers who want to make our industry a better place for everyone.
Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.
More about the Inclusive STAGES Podcast
Inclusive STAGES™ Building Healthy Arts Spaces is the podcast for theater makers, creatives, and arts leaders who believe we can build a better industry—one brave, emotionally intelligent, and trauma-informed space at a time. Hosted by Kira Troilo, founder of Art & Soul Consulting, each episode explores what it really takes to create inclusive, healthy creative environments in today’s rapidly changing performing arts landscape.
Whether you're a theater artist, an arts administrator, an educator, a creative leader, or a producer, this show will help you answer big questions like:
What is inclusive leadership in the arts, and how do I practice it?
How can performing arts organizations promote diversity and inclusion?
What does “representation matters” mean in theater and beyond?
How can venues make performances more accessible?
What tools do I need to lead with care—and still make bold, brilliant work?
Through honest conversations, industry insights, and practical tools, Inclusive STAGES™ empowers you to reduce burnout, dismantle harmful norms, and build the kinds of creative spaces where everyone can thrive.
New episodes every week. Follow now and join the movement toward healthier, more sustainable arts spaces.
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